Youths organise fest to promote good thinking

Sometimes it becomes necessary to add the ‘fourth monkey’ to the popular ‘See no evil, Speak no evil, Hear no evil’ set of three monkeys – that of ‘Think no evil’. A group of youngsters from a local organisation ‘Fourth Monkey’ in association with the Sarvodaya International Trust, Gujarat Chapter, has organised a week-long festival ‘Gandhi Utsav’ from September 26-October 2.

The youngsters believe it’s time Mahatma Gandhi was explored in Ahmedabad by the young brigade.

“The idea was born in 2009 when we were enjoying an evening conversation over tea,” said Sheena Sunrays, a member of the core team. She added, “We wanted to do something new on Gandhi Jayanti and that is when we stumbled upon his three monkeys.

Although initially we thought of ‘Think no evil’, we later changed it to ‘Think Good’. We had launched it at Gandhi Ashram in 2009.”

However, the group could not conduct similar activities from 2010-2012. They restricted themselves to merely organising Prabhat Pheri. According to Sunrays, “This year we are back to organising this week-long festival. We also have plans to organise ‘Yuva Samvad Yatra’ – a cycle tour across the city– to connect to the youth and their activities”

Eminent gandhian and youth leader Dr SN Subbarao will conduct ‘Sarva Dharma Prarthna’ and address the gathering at Gandhi Ashram on September 26 for the inauguration.

Smaller versions
Miniature sculptor artist Dilip Zinzuwadia has created miniature versions of ‘Hriday Kunj’ and ‘Vinoba Kutir’ using copper, wood, sesam wood and plywood. The Hriday Kunj weighs around 2,640 kg and took 75 days to make.

The miniature Vinoba Kutir took around 10 days to make.

There are also miniature versions of charkha made by the artist.

The calendar
Sept 26 – Inauguration at 5 pm

Sept 27 – film screening ‘Mohan to Mahatma’ followed by discussion - 4.30-6.30 pm, Mahatma Gandhi International School (MGIS)

Sept 28 – a dialogue with cultural historian Tridip Suhrud - 4.30-6.30 pm, MGIS

Oct 1-2 – Freedom walk from Panchkuva gate, Kalupur, to historic sites, 7.30-9.30 am

Oct-2 – Prabhat Pheri – 4.30-7am – Kalupur Swaminaryan Temple to Jama Masjid; Chaalo Charka Ramiye – learning the art of spinning charkha – 9am – 12pm; Kid’s Corner – fun activities and peace games – 4-6 pm, Gandhi Ashram.